How To Treat a Snakebite

Some of the most poisonous snakes commonly found in the United States are rattlesnakes, copperheads, coral snakes and water moccasins.  The best medicine is prevention: Do not pick up any snakes in the wild unless you have been professionally trained in recognizing and handling snakes.

When treating a snakebite, it is very important to first determine whether the bite is from a poisonous or nonpoisonous snake. If you notice the area rapidly changing color, swelling and/or hurting, it is likely snake was poisonous.

Nonpoisonous Snake Bites
To treat a nonpoisonous snakebite, first thoroughly wash the bite area with warm, soapy water.  Apply generous amounts of an antibiotic cream or ointment and a bandage.  Check with your family doctor to see whether you need a tetanus injection.

Poisonous Snake Bites
To treat a poisonous snakebite, first note the type of snake that bit.  You will need to relay this information to medical personnel.

Remain quiet and as calm as possible after being bitten; this will prevent venom from coursing through your body at a faster rate.  Lie down with the snakebite area lower than the level of your heart.  This position will somewhat limit the amount of venom circulating in your blood stream.

To treat a snakebite that is located on the arm or leg, use a bandage or some kind of band - like a belt - to wrap the limb a few inches above the bite between the bitten area and the heart.  This will slow the spread of venom in your body.  The bandage should be tight enough to slow the blood flow at your skin level, but not so tight that blood flow is completely stopped in the arm or leg.  Leave this band in place until you are under medical supervision.

If the bite is from a poisonous snake and you are more than two hours from a hospital or medical facility, make a one-quarter-inch-deep cut with a sterile knife or razor blade over each fang mark or puncture.  If you are outdoors and they are available, you can use a lighter or matches to sterilize the blade; you can also use anything that contains alcohol.  Be sure to make the incisions lengthwise on your limb - do not cut crosswise over the leg or arm.   Suck out the venom either orally or with a suction device if you have one.  Snake bite kits have these suction devices.  Spit out the venom and repeat this process several times.  Please note: If this is a bite from a coral snake,  do not use this cutting method to rid your body of venom.

Seek emergency medical attention immediately.